Crash Count for District 37
Crashes: Collisions involving cars, bikes, and pedestrians. 6,495
All Injuries: Any injury from a reported crash. 3,476
Moderate: Broken bones, concussions, and other serious injuries. 727
Serious: Life-altering injuries: amputations, paralysis, severe trauma. 49
Deaths: Lives lost to traffic violence. 10
Data from Jan 1, 2022 to Jul 24, 2025

Who’s Injuring and Killing Pedestrians in District 37?

Hit-And-Run Nation: Brooklyn Bleeds While City Hall Stalls

Hit-And-Run Nation: Brooklyn Bleeds While City Hall Stalls

District 37: Jan 1, 2022 - Jul 6, 2025

Blood on the Asphalt: Recent Crashes in District 37

A man tried to cross Broadway and East New York Avenue. A gray Ford hit him and kept going. He died at Brookdale Hospital. The driver did not stop. Police are still looking. It was the second hit-and-run in the city that day. As of July, 55 pedestrians have been killed crossing city streets this year. The driver of the Ford sped off, never stopping, cops said. He remained at large on Saturday.

In the last twelve months, District 37 saw 3 deaths and 22 serious injuries from crashes. 884 people were hurt. The numbers do not slow. They do not care about age. Children, elders, workers—no one is spared. crash data

The Shape of Danger: Who Pays the Price

SUVs and cars did the most harm. They caused the most injuries and deaths to people on foot. Trucks and buses followed. Motorcycles, mopeds, and bikes also left scars, but the weight of steel and speed is what kills. The stories repeat. A 71-year-old woman, crossing Knickerbocker Avenue, was killed by a driver who ran the light and sped. crash data

Council Member Sandy Nurse: Record and Responsibility

Council Member Sandy Nurse has backed bills to make streets safer. She voted to legalize jaywalking, ending a law that punished walkers instead of drivers. She co-sponsored the SAFE Streets Act, pushed for more protected bike lanes, and supported daylighting—banning parking near crosswalks to clear sightlines. But the pace is slow. The deaths keep coming. The city has the power to lower speed limits to 20 mph. It has not done so. The law sits. The streets bleed.

Call to Action: Demand More, Demand Now

Every day of delay is another day of loss. Call Council Member Nurse. Call the Mayor. Tell them to use the laws they have. Lower the speed. Build the barriers. Protect the crossings. Do not wait for another name on the list. The victim was crossing near the Broadway Junction near the corner of Broadway and East New York Ave. in Ocean Hill at about 10 p.m. Thursday when a gray Ford rammed into him.

Act now. Lives depend on it.

Citations

Citations

Fix the Problem

Sandy Nurse
Council Member Sandy Nurse
District 37
District Office:
1945 Broadway, Brooklyn, NY 11207
718-642-8664
Legislative Office:
250 Broadway, Suite 1754, New York, NY 10007
212-788-7284

Other Representatives

Maritza Davila
Assembly Member Maritza Davila
District 53
District Office:
673 Hart St. Unit C2, Brooklyn, NY 11237
Legislative Office:
Room 844, Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY 12248
Julia Salazar
State Senator Julia Salazar
District 18
District Office:
212 Evergreen Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11221
Legislative Office:
Room 514, Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY 12247
Other Geographies

District 37 Council District 37 sits in Queens, Precinct 104, AD 53, SD 18.

It contains Bushwick (West), Bushwick (East), The Evergreens Cemetery, Cypress Hills, East New York (North), Highland Park-Cypress Hills Cemeteries (South), Ocean Hill, Brooklyn CB4, Brooklyn CB5.

See also
State_assembly_districts
State Senate Districts

Traffic Safety Timeline for Council District 37

Man Dies After Fall Onto Subway Tracks

A man fell onto Prospect Park subway tracks during a fight. The train struck him. He died at the scene. Police questioned the other person. The platform became a place of sudden death.

NY Daily News (2025-07-30) reports a man died after falling onto the tracks at Prospect Park station during a fight. Police said, "As the fight escalated, he landed on the train tracks and was struck by an oncoming train." The victim suffered fatal head trauma. The other person involved was taken into custody for questioning. No charges were filed at the time. The article does not specify if the man fell or was pushed. The incident highlights the dangers of open subway platforms and the risks faced by riders in moments of conflict.


Moped Rider Killed in Jamaica Avenue Collision

A moped and sedan collided on Jamaica Avenue. One moped rider died. Police cite driver inattention. Impact left a deadly mark in Brooklyn.

A moped and a sedan crashed at Jamaica Avenue and Richmond Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the collision involved 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The moped rider, age 25, died at the scene. Three sedan occupants, including a 12-year-old passenger, suffered unspecified injuries. The sedan was making a left turn when struck. Police list no other contributing factors. The report does not mention helmet use or signals. The crash underscores the lethal risk when drivers lose focus.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4830833 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31
Child Hit Near Sheepshead Bay Playground

A car struck an 11-year-old boy by a Brooklyn playground. He survived. Police search for answers. The street stays dangerous.

ABC7 reported on July 19, 2025, that an 11-year-old boy was hit by a car near a playground on Bedford Avenue in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. The crash happened around 5:30 p.m. Friday. The boy is in stable condition. Police are investigating the circumstances. The article states, "There is no word yet on how the accident happened." No details on driver actions or charges have been released. The incident highlights the ongoing risk to children near city streets and playgrounds.


Driver Kills Girlfriend Doing Donuts

A driver spun out in a Brooklyn lot. The car struck a woman on the curb. She died at the hospital. Police charged the driver with negligent homicide. The lot was left scarred. The city mourns another loss.

According to the New York Post (2025-07-16), Zachary Cando, 24, was 'doing the dangerous spinning trick' known as donuts in a Gateway Center parking lot when he lost control and hit Madisyn Ruiz, 21, who was sitting nearby. Ruiz died after being rushed to the hospital. Police charged Cando with criminally negligent homicide, reckless endangerment, and reckless driving. The article notes the car was 'badly dented in the front.' The crash highlights the risks of reckless driving in public spaces and the need for stronger deterrents in parking lots.


Court Blocks Bedford Avenue Bike Lane Removal

A judge stopped the city from tearing out Bedford Avenue’s only protected bike lane. The fight over safety and street space continues. Cyclists and pedestrians wait as legal battles stall change.

Streetsblog NYC reported on July 15, 2025, that an appellate judge halted Mayor Adams’s plan to remove a protected bike lane on Bedford Avenue. Judge Ventura issued a restraining order after Transportation Alternatives and Baruch Herzfeld appealed the city’s move. The city had planned to start demolition after complaints from local leaders, but the court’s order blocks any changes until further review. Streetsblog quotes Ben Furnas: 'The Adams administration is going to have to spend their night preparing their legal case, not ripping out a critical safety project.' The article highlights weak enforcement of parking rules and the city’s reversal against its own DOT’s safety plan. The case underscores how political pressure and lax enforcement can threaten vulnerable road users.


Bus Turns Left, Strikes Cyclist on Broadway

A bus turned left on Broadway and hit a cyclist. The rider suffered a head injury and severe bleeding. Police cite passing too closely and other vehicular errors. The street saw blood and confusion.

A bus making a left turn on Broadway collided with a cyclist traveling east. The cyclist, a 40-year-old man, suffered a head injury and severe bleeding. According to the police report, contributing factors included 'Passing Too Closely' and 'Other Vehicular.' The bus driver and passengers were not seriously hurt. The report lists no helmet use for the cyclist, but only after noting driver errors. The crash underscores the danger faced by cyclists when large vehicles turn across their path.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828963 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31
Hit-And-Run Kills Two In Sunset Park

A car sped down Third Avenue. Two men, one with a cart, one with a cane, crossed. The driver did not brake. Both men died in the street. The car fled. Police arrested the driver hours later.

ABC7 reported on July 11, 2025, that two men, aged 59 and 80, were killed by a hit-and-run driver at Third Avenue and 52nd Street in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. Surveillance showed the car "speeding southbound" and not braking before impact. The driver, Juventino Anastacio Florentino, was arrested and charged with manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, and reckless driving. The victims, Kex Un Chen and Faqiu Lin, were likely headed to a local food pantry. The incident highlights the lethal risk posed by reckless driving and the vulnerability of pedestrians, especially near essential services.


Elderly Man Killed In Brooklyn Hit-Run

A moped struck a 90-year-old man in Brooklyn. The driver fled. The man died at the hospital. Security video captured the impact. The street claimed another life.

CBS New York (2025-07-10) reports a 90-year-old man died after a moped hit-and-run in Brooklyn. Security footage 'shows the moment the man was struck.' The driver left the scene. The victim died at the hospital. The incident highlights the lethal risk for pedestrians and the ongoing danger of drivers who flee. No policy changes or arrests were reported.


Judge Allows Bedford Avenue Bike Lane Change

A judge let the city move a protected bike lane off Bedford Avenue. Cyclists lose curbside safety. Adams pushed the change after local protests. Advocates warn the street grows more dangerous.

Gothamist (2025-07-09) reports a state judge allowed Mayor Adams to remove curbside bike lane protections on Brooklyn's Bedford Avenue. The city will shift the lane to the street's center, ending the barrier of parked cars. The move follows protests from local Orthodox Jewish communities and a recent e-bike crash. Advocates sued, arguing Adams bypassed environmental review. The judge ruled the change was not a major project. Transportation Alternatives warns, 'If the Bedford Avenue safety improvements are destroyed, this all but guarantees that there will be blood on Eric Adams' hands.' The decision highlights Adams' pattern of scaling back street safety redesigns.


Elderly Pedestrian Killed Crossing Avenue I

A Smart Car struck Dov Broyde, 70, as he crossed Avenue I near his home. Medics rushed him to the hospital. He died. The driver stayed. No charges filed. Brooklyn street claimed another life.

NY Daily News (2025-07-08) reports Dov Broyde, 70, was fatally struck by a Smart Car while crossing Avenue I at E. Fifth St. near Midwood around 9:30 p.m. The article states the driver 'plowed into him' and remained at the scene. No criminal charges were filed at the time. The incident highlights persistent danger for pedestrians in New York City, where 55 have died this year. The crash underscores the ongoing toll of traffic violence and the urgent need for systemic safety improvements.


Sedan Strikes Pedestrian on East New York Ave

A sedan hit a man crossing East New York Ave in Brooklyn. The impact killed him. He suffered head and crush injuries. The car’s front end took the blow. Police list contributing factors as unspecified.

A 36-year-old man was killed when a sedan struck him as he crossed East New York Ave at Broadway in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the pedestrian was at the intersection, crossing without a signal or crosswalk, when the sedan, traveling west, hit him with its center front end. The victim suffered fatal head and crush injuries. Police list contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are detailed in the report.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4825128 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31
Int 0857-2024
Nurse votes yes to remove abandoned vehicles, boosting street safety.

Council orders swift removal of abandoned, derelict cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. No plates, no stickers, no excuses. Police and sanitation must act. Safer crossings for all who walk, ride, or wait.

Bill Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council on June 30, 2025. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation," requires the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours of report. The NYPD must tow cars lacking valid plates or stickers. Prime sponsor Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led, joined by Crystal Hudson, Amanda Farías, Lincoln Restler, and others. The law targets street hazards, clearing blocked sightlines and crosswalks. It aims to cut risks for pedestrians and cyclists by removing abandoned vehicles fast.


SUV Kills Boy Crossing Crown Heights Street

An SUV struck and killed eight-year-old Mordica Keller as he crossed Eastern Parkway with his sister. The driver stayed. Blood stained the concrete. The boy died at Kings County Hospital. The street claimed another child.

According to the New York Post (2025-06-29), eight-year-old Mordica Keller was killed by a black Honda Pilot while crossing Eastern Parkway at Albany Street with his sister. The 69-year-old driver, heading south, remained at the scene. Police said, "They were walking, he was crossing the street with his sister." The driver had a green light, and no arrest has been made. The incident highlights persistent dangers for pedestrians at busy intersections. The investigation continues.


Drunk Unlicensed Driver Kills Moped Rider

A moped slammed into a car’s door in Bay Ridge. The rider died. His passenger broke bones. The driver was drunk, unlicensed, and arrested. The street stayed quiet after the crash. Another life lost to reckless driving.

NY Daily News reported on June 22, 2025, that Joel Mota, 22, died after his moped struck the passenger-side door of a 2013 Acura TSX at Third Ave and 67th St in Brooklyn. The crash happened at 4:45 a.m. Police said the car’s driver, Leslie Moreno, was intoxicated and unlicensed. Mota’s passenger suffered multiple fractures. The article notes, 'Police arrested the Acura driver, 29-year-old Leslie Moreno, for driving while intoxicated, driving while ability impaired, and being unlicensed.' Moreno was arraigned and released without bail. The case highlights the ongoing risk posed by impaired, unlicensed drivers on city streets.


Judge Halts Removal Of Brooklyn Bike Lane

A judge stopped the city from tearing out a protected bike lane on Bedford Avenue. The lane stays for now. A toddler was struck by an e-bike. City Hall acted without consulting locals. The fight over street safety continues.

The New York Post reported on June 18, 2025, that Brooklyn Supreme Court Judge Carolyn Walker-Diallo blocked Mayor Adams' plan to remove a protected bike lane on Bedford Avenue. The ruling followed a lawsuit by Transportation Alternatives, who argued that removing the lane would endanger road users. The judge found City Hall 'acted arbitrarily, capriciously, and illegally' by failing to consult local officials or the community. The city cited 'several dangerous incidents—many of which involved children getting seriously hurt' as the reason for the proposed removal, after a 3-year-old was struck by an e-bike in May. The protected lane will remain until a court hearing in August. The case highlights the tension between rapid policy changes and the need for community input on street safety.


Williamsburg Protected Bike Lane Removed

City will strip Bedford Avenue of its protected bike lane. The mayor cites safety. Cyclists lose a shield. Streets grow harsher. The move stirs anger and worry in Williamsburg. Vulnerable road users face new risk.

CBS New York reported on June 14, 2025, that Mayor Eric Adams will remove the protected bike lane on Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn. The mayor claims the rollback is due to 'safety concerns.' The article notes, 'The decision to remove it is drawing mixed reaction in Williamsburg.' No details are given on specific incidents or data prompting the change. The removal eliminates a key barrier between cyclists and traffic. This action raises questions about city policy and the commitment to protecting vulnerable road users. The move may increase exposure to traffic violence for cyclists and pedestrians.


Bedford Avenue Bike Lane Reverts After Crashes

A new bike lane design on Bedford Avenue failed. Crashes followed. City officials will restore the old layout. Cyclists remain exposed. Promises of safety fell short. The street stays dangerous.

CBS New York reported on June 13, 2025, that Brooklyn's Bedford Avenue bike lane will return to its original design after a series of crashes. The article states, "The redesign was initially intended to improve safety for cyclists, but recent incidents have prompted city officials to revert to the previous layout." The protected lane, meant to shield riders, instead saw collisions increase. The city’s decision highlights the risks of poorly executed street changes and the urgent need for designs that truly protect vulnerable road users. No driver actions are detailed, but the policy shift underscores ongoing systemic failures in street safety planning.


NYC DOT Targets Intersection Danger Zones

City crews will block cars from corners. Barriers, granite, planters—hard lines drawn. Sightlines open. Pedestrians and cyclists step forward, visible. Intersections, once blind, now clear. The city moves to cut the toll where most blood spills.

amNY reported on June 11, 2025, that the NYC Department of Transportation will redesign intersections to protect pedestrians and cyclists. The plan uses 'hardened daylighting'—physical barriers, granite blocks, and planters—to stop vehicles from parking near corners. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said, 'Using barriers to clear space at the intersection will help ensure pedestrians, cyclists and turning vehicles can see each other and enhance safety.' Nearly half of city traffic deaths happen at intersections. The new design will first appear at high-crash sites in Brooklyn, including Ocean Avenue at Church Avenue and several others. The move highlights a systemic effort to address visibility failures and reduce deadly conflicts at crossings.


Moped Driver Ejected in Ridgewood Avenue Crash

A moped and a sedan collided on Ridgewood Avenue at Chestnut Street. The moped driver, eighteen, was ejected and left unconscious, bleeding. Both drivers were distracted. The moped was demolished. The sedan’s rear was struck. Streets stayed dangerous.

A crash involving a moped and a BMW sedan occurred at Ridgewood Avenue and Chestnut Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, both vehicles were going straight when they collided. The eighteen-year-old moped driver was ejected, suffered severe bleeding, and was found unconscious with injuries to the entire body. The moped was demolished. The sedan, driven by a thirty-six-year-old man, sustained damage to the left rear quarter panel. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor for both drivers. No other contributing factors were cited. No pedestrians were involved. The crash highlights the ongoing risk faced by vulnerable road users in Brooklyn.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4819926 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31
Sedans Collide on Powell Street, Three Injured

Two sedans slammed together at Powell Street and Liberty Avenue. Metal crushed. Three men hurt. One driver left unconscious. Police cite traffic control ignored and unlicensed driving.

According to the police report, two sedans collided at Powell Street and Liberty Avenue in Brooklyn. Three men were injured. One driver, age 35, was found unconscious with crush injuries. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor. One driver was unlicensed at the time of the crash. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left one vehicle demolished. The police report does not mention helmet or signal use as factors. The crash highlights the danger when drivers ignore traffic controls and drive without a license.


  • Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4818427 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31